This latest report doesn’t just serve as a cautionary tale against legalizing drug importation. It also outlines
ways policymakers can strengthen current laws to protect our drug supply from fake medicines.

Let’s take a look at a few recommendations Congress can consider:

1. Determine Appropriate Resources for Agencies to Detect Fake Drugs
The FDA, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol and the U.S. Postal Service serve as gatekeepers against fake
medicines. The more resources they have to detect and deter counterfeiters, the less vulnerable our drug supply
chain is from criminals.

2. Increase Information Sharing
If we make it easier for law enforcement to share what they know about counterfeiters, it increases their chances
of identifying and placing criminals behind bars.

3. Discourage Counterfeiters from using the U.S. Postal Service
Enabling U.S. Customs and Border Patrol the authority to arrest and penalize counterfeiters could dissuade
criminals from smuggling fake medicines into the U.S. through our mail system.

4. Legislative Updates
In 2013, the Food and Drug Safety and Innovation Act (FDASIA) was amended to create
a new penalty for “trafficking in counterfeit drugs” - in addition to counterfeiting other consumer
goods like clothing. We need another update to FDASIA to address illegal online pharmacies and add enhanced
penalties for pharmaceutical counterfeiters.

Thomas Kubic, former Deputy Assistant Director of the FBI, perfectly summarizes legalizing drug importation: “We
need to be strengthening, not loosening, our defenses to ensure that patients in our country receive safe,
effective medicines.” I could not agree more.